Ground-leveler and moisture-retainer.



P. S. BAKER. GROUND LEVELER AND MOISTURE RETAINER.

A1PLIOATION FILED JULY 31,1913.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

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PETER S. BAKER, OF LOGAN PflflT, INDIANA.

GROUND-LEVELEB AND TITOISTURE-RETAINEB.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Application filed July 3 1, 1913. Serial No. 782,273.

To all whom it may concern li e it known that T, PETER S. BAKER, a citizen of the United States residing at Lo ansport, in the county of Cass, State of I uiana, have invented certain new and use -ul lmpr veinents in Ground-Levelers and l"oishire-Retainers; and T do hereby declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will. enable others skilled, in the art to which. it upper-talus to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in agricultural implements and has particular referenceto machines for working soil. i

The object of the present invention'resides in the provision of a machine which will break up the ground and level the same and which will then pack the ground in the manner of a roller so that moisture will. be retained therein.

A further object resides in the provision of a machine of the class described which is capable of performing a number of functions, such as covering potatoes or gene planted in the ground. performing the work of a corn stalk breaker and serving efficiently as a road grader and scraper.

A still further object of the machine is to provide such a machine which is compact in structure and simply proportioned so that it may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

ld ith these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts to be more fully hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended. 7

Reference is had to the accompanying rawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved machine Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof Fig. 3 is a vertical'longitudinal sectional view therethrough taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, Fig. l is a detail vie of the method of connecting the ground working elements to the frame, ig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the forward ground working elements, and Fig. 6 1s a perspective view of one of the rear ground working elements.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the frame-work of the improved machine comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending bars 5 spaced apart and slightly converging at their forward ends, said bars being connected by a plurality of tr ersely extending spaced parallel bars 6 up .scd ore. and secured to the first-mentioned bar. Secured to eyes 7 on the forward endsof the outer bars 5 are series of links 8, the outer end of each series being secured to a clevis ring 9 to form an equalizer element. Secured to the intermediate portion of each outer longitudinal bar 5 are a pair of bars 10 which diverge outwardly therefrom and from each other for supporting the rear ground working members.

p The ground engaging members 12 for breaking up the ground comprise each an annular band havingits edges flared outwardly so that a cross sectional view of the hand is substantially arcuate. These members are secured on the bottom face of the frame in staggered relation sothat they ongage the whole of the ground over which the machine passes. For rolling and packing the dirt which is not packed by the rear portion of the bands 12; a plurality of semicircular members 13 are provided having a substantially arcuate cross section and disposed in a line at the rear of the machine with their central portions to the rear and their side edges abutting. The side edges of these members are beveled so that they do not disturb the earth packed by the member 12. The means for securing these members 12 and 13 to the frame comprise a plurality of bolts 14 having hooks at their lower ends engaged in openings 15 in the members and having their upper ends passed through the adjacent portion of the frame work and held by a nut threaded thereon.

This device is highly eflicient in operation and capable "of performing a variety of functions. When it is dragged over the ground to break up the soil and pack the same to retain moisture in the ground, the forward portion of themember 12 cuts the clods and lifts them into the interior of the members where they roll about until they drop into a depression or else are broken up and pass under the rear portion of the band, which pulverizes the same and presses them. Those clods which escape the bands 12 are caught by the semi-circular members 13 and rolled. into depressions 0r pulverized and pressed so that after the machine has passed over the ground it is provided with a coat of pulverized soil packed down to maintain the moisture. It is thus seen that this machine is valuable for covering grain and potatoes which are planted in the ground.

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural machine comprising a frame and a plurality of annular members depending therefrom with their axis di posed vertically and the lower ends of said members being flared outwardly.

2. An agricultural machine comprising a frame, a plurality of annular members de pending therefrom with their aXis disposed vertically and a plurality of arcuate members disposed in a line at the rear of the machine and having their side edges abutting and the lower ends of all of said members being outwardly flared.

An agricultural machine comprising a plurality of longitudinal bars, a plurality of transverse bars, a plurality of annular members disposed thereunder with their axis disposed vertically and provided with spaced openings and bolts passed through the bars and tern'iinating in hooked portions engaging the openings to hold the said members to the frame.

l. A ground working implement comprising an annular band harinp; its edges outwardly flared.

5. A, ground working implement comprising an annular band having its side edges outwardly flared, the axis oi said implement adapted to be disposed vertically, the forward portion of the lowermost flared ed e being adapted to cut the Earth and direct it to the interior of the band and the rear portion of said edge being adapted to pulvel'ize the earth and pack it.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER S. BAKER. ll itnesses Smvnsrnn L. TAYLOR, ANTHONY F. MoCArrREY.

, Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. (3. 

